1. Short-range ballistic missile Prithvi-II successfully tested
India successfully launched the Prithvi-II short-range ballistic missile in the night on June 15 from an integrated test range at Chandipur in Odisha.
Prithvi-II Missile
It is an indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile, which has a range of about 250 km and can carry one tonne of payload.
It was developed by DRDO and first used by the Indian Air Force.
It is a proven system and is capable of hitting targets with a very high degree of accuracy.
The user training launch successfully validated all operational and technical parameters of the missile.
Prithvi Missiles of India
Prithvi missile is a tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile developed by DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
Prithvi was the first missile to be developed under this programme.
Three variants of Prithvi Missiles
Prithvi-I - Army version -150 km range with a payload of 1,000 kg.
Prithvi II – Air Force version 250-350 km range with a payload of 500 kg
Prithvi III – Naval version 350 km range with a payload of 1,000 kg
The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)
It was started by the Government of India in 1982-83, it included the following projects -
Prithvi - Short range surface to surface missile
Trishul - Short range surface to air missile
Aakash - Medium range surface to air missile
Nag - Third generation anti-tank missile
Agni-I -Agni missile was later separated from the IGMDP due to its strategic importance
2. India expanding its nuclear arsenal - SIPRI
Stockholm-based defence think tank SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) claimed on June 13 that India had 160 nuclear warheads as of January 2022, indicating India's expansion of nuclear arsenal.
India's nuclear stockpile increased from 156 in January 2021 to 160 in January 2022.
Nuclear stockpile of neighbouring countries
Pakistan's nuclear stockpile remains at 165 in January 2021 and January 2022.
In January 2021 and January 2022, China had 350 nuclear warheads.
China is nearing substantial expansion of its nuclear weapons arsenal, satellite images indicate, including the construction of more than 300 new missile silos.
India and Pakistan appear to be expanding their nuclear arsenals, and both countries introduced the new type of nuclear system in 2021 and continue to develop it.
Countries with nuclear weapons
As per SIPRI, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea have nuclear weapons.
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. It is funded mainly by the Swedish Government.
Established in 1966
Headquarters : Solna, Sweden
3. Multinational peace exercise "X Khan Quest 2022"
Tags: Defence
A multinational peace exercise "X Khan Quest 2022" involving military contingents from 16 countries was held in Mongolia.
The Indian Army is represented in the exercise by a contingent of Ladakh Scouts.
The exercise was inaugurated by Mongolian President Ukhnagin Khuralsukh.
X Khan Quest
Khan Quest is a multinational peacekeeping mission organised in Mongolia.
This includes a United Nations Peacekeeping Mission command post exercise in the Five Hills Mountain Training Area of the Mongolian Armed Forces and a United Nations Peacekeeping Operation (PKO) mission field training exercise.
The exercise is designed to improve peacekeeping capabilities, strengthen military ties and enhance the UN principle PKO competencies of all participants.
The military exercise will enhance the level of defence cooperation between the Indian Army and the Armed Forces of the participating countries, especially Mongolia, thereby enhancing the bilateral ties between the two countries.
Important fact
Nomadic Elephant is another military exercise that is conducted between India and Mongolia.
4. Govt changes Service rules to make retired officers eligible for CDS post
Tags: Defence
The Central Government has made a major change in the rules for appointment to the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The government has amended the service rules of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
What are the new rules?
Under the new rule, now retired chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force or serving lieutenant general rank officers can also become CDS.
Age should be less than 62 years at the time of appointment.
Thus, under the new rules, the way has been cleared for the second best active rank officers of the three services to become CDS.
General Bipin Rawat was appointed as the country's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) after retiring from the post of Army Chief.
The post of CDS has been lying vacant since the death of General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu in December last year.
About Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
CDS is the head of Indian Armed Forces and the highest-ranking officer of the Indian Armed Forces.
The President of India is the supreme commander of the armed forces.
General Bipin Rawat was the first Chief of Defence Staff.
He assumed office on 1 January 2020.
CDS post was created on 24 December 2019.
CDS is a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, National Security Council, Defence Acquisition Council, Defence Planning Committee, Nuclear Command Authority, Defence Cyber Agency and Defence Space Agency.
List of Chiefs of the Indian Defence
Army Chief - General Manoj Pande
Navy Chief - Admiral R. Hari Kumar
Air Force Chief - Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari
5. Chinese astronauts enter Tiangong space station module after successful launch
Tags: Defence Science and Technology
The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced that three Shenzhou-14 astronauts successfully entered the Tiangong Space Station on June 6 with the Tianzhou-4 cargo craft.
The three astronauts Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Kai Xuje will collaborate with the ground team to complete the assembly and construction of the Tiangong space station.
Astronauts will grow the space station from a single-module structure with core module Tianhe, two lab modules Wentian and Mengtian into a National Space Laboratory.
About Tiangong Space Station
This is a planned permanent space station of China which will be placed in Low Earth Orbit.
It was launched on September 15, 2016.
This is China's longest manned space mission so far.
China had launched Tiangong-1 in 2011 as a proof-of-concept of technologies for future stations.
Tiangong will be fully operational by the end of 2022.
6. India, Bangladesh hold joint military exercise as part of bilateral defence cooperation
Tags: Defence
As part of India-Bangladesh bilateral defence cooperation, a joint military training exercise Ex SAMPRITI-X is being conducted at Jashor Military Station, Bangladesh from 5 June to 16 June 2022.
Exercise SAMPRITI
Exercise SAMPRITI is an important bilateral defence cooperation organised by the two countries alternately.
It aims to strengthen and broaden the aspects of interoperability and cooperation between the two armies.
Its aim is to understand each other’s tactical drills and operational techniques.
Exercise Ex SAMPRITI-X
During this joint military exercise, the armies of the two countries will share expertise in multiple scenarios of terrorism, humanitarian aid and disaster relief and UN peacekeeping under the mandate of the United Nations.
As the exercise progresses, a joint tactical exercise will be conducted in which the joint combat exercise of both the troops will be practised.
The exercise will culminate with a final verification exercise in which soldiers of both the armies will jointly practice counter-terrorism operations in a simulated environment.
The exercise is an opportunity for cultural understanding besides strengthening trust and cooperation between the armies of both nations.
Both the armies will benefit from each other's experience from this exercise which will further contribute to peace and stability in the region.
7. INS Akshay and Nishank decommissioned after 32 years of glorious service
Tags: Defence
INS Akshay and INS Nishank were decommissioned on 4 June after rendering excellent service to the nation for 32 years.
The ceremony was conducted at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai in a traditional ceremony.
INS Nishank and INS Akshay were constructed and commissioned at Poti Shipyard in Georgia.
These fine and lethal warships were inducted in the Indian Navy in 1989 and 1990.
INS Nishank and Akshay were part of 22 Missile Vessel Squadron and 23 Patrol Vessel Squadron respectively under the control of Flag Officer Commanding, Maharashtra Naval Area.
Both participated in several naval operations including Operation Talwar during the Kargil War and Operation Parakram in 2001.
Operation Parakram was launched consequent to the Parliament attack in 2001.
INS Nishank, the fourth of the Veer class missile corvette killers, will be displayed as a war relic at a historic place.
INS Nishank
It was inducted into the Indian Navy on 12 September 1989.
It is a Veer class corvette ship, it has a length of 184 feet and a beam of 34 feet.
It used to move in the sea at a speed of 59 kilometres per hour.
It had 4 P-15 Termit missiles.
INS Akshay
It was inducted into the Navy on 10 December 1990.
It is an Abbey class corvette battleship
It is 183.7 feet long, has a beam height of 33 feet and a draft of 11 feet.
This warship used to move in the sea at a speed of 52 kilometres per hour.
It had 1 quad surface to air missile Strela-2M, 1 AK-76 machine gun, 4 torpedo tubes.
8. U.S. to send medium-range rocket systems to Ukraine
Tags: Defence International News
US President Joe Biden's administration has announced that it will send high-tech medium-range rocket systems to Ukraine.
Ukrainian leaders are constantly demanding this, struggling to stop Russia's growing hold in Ukraine's Donbass region.
Russia is making incremental progress in the Donbass, seeking to annex the remaining parts of the region.
In total, the United States has pledged nearly $5 billion in security aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden administration.
The rocket systems are part of a new $700 million tranche of security assistance for Ukraine from the U S.
About the rocket systems
These include Helicopters, Javelin anti-tank weapon systems, tactical vehicles, spare parts etc.
These rocket systems are capable of attacking Russia.
Any of these weapon systems could shoot down Russian if it was close enough to the border.
Medium-range rockets generally can travel about 45 miles (70 kilometers).
The upgraded rocket system will give the Ukrainian military greater accuracy in targeting Russian assets inside Ukraine.
To Ukraine, the US is planning to send the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, which is mounted on a truck and can carry a container with six rockets.
9. Astra Mk1: Govt places order for first indigenous BVR missile
Tags: Defence
The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with the Hyderabad-based public-sector Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) for supply of the Astra Mark-1, at a cost of Rs 2,971 crore, for deployment on fighter jets of the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
About Astra Mk-1 Missile
It is a beyond visual range (BVR), air-to-air missile (AAM).
It has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and manufactured by Hyderabad-based Bharat Dynamics Limited.
The project was officially launched in the early 2000s.
It has a range of over 100 km and 20 km altitude.
It will be deployed on fighter jets like Indian Air Force's Sukhoi-30 MKI and Tejas and Navy's MiG-29K.
The contract worth Rs 2,971 crore for the Astra Mk1 will be completed in six years.
Currently, India imports similar missiles from Israel, Russia and a few other manufacturers.
The Astra Mk-1 has a range of about 110 km, the Mk-2 with a range of over 150 km is being developed and a longer range Mk-3 variant is being envisaged.
Strategic significance
The missile has been designed based on the requirements specified by the IAF for BVR as well as close-combat engagement.
Its capability provides large stand-off ranges to get fighter aircraft.
It can neutralise adversarial air assets without exposing them to unfavourable air defence measures.
It is technically and economically superior to many such imported missiles.
10. India, China reviews situation along LAC during 24th WMCC meeting
Tags: International Relations Defence
The 24th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held on 31 May.
The Indian delegation was led by the Additional Secretary, (East Asia), Ministry of External Affairs and the Chinese delegation was led by the Director General, Department of Borders and Oceans, Ministry of External Affairs.
Both sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of Indo-China border areas.
Since the last meeting of the WMCC in November 2021, both sides have held the 14th and 15th meeting of Senior Commanders in January and March 2022 respectively.
Both sides exchanged views on the current situation along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh.
They agreed to continue discussions through diplomatic and military channels to resolve the remaining issues along the LAC.
They agreed to hold the 16th Round of Senior Commanders' Meeting to achieve the objective of complete elimination of all friction points along the LAC in the Western Sector.
About WMCC
It was established in 2012 as an institutional mechanism for consultation and coordination for the management of India-China border areas.
The aim was to exchange views on strengthening communication and cooperation between border security personnel from both sides.
It is headed by joint secretary-level officials from both the countries.
The mechanism was first suggested by Wen Jiabao in 2010.
